CO537-5142 — Page 182

95.

[This telegram is of particular secrecy and should be retained by the authorised recipient and not passed on]

Cypher/OTP.

DIPLOMATIC DISTRIBUTION.

FROM SINGAPORE TO FOREIGN OFFICE,

(From Commissioner General in South East Asia)

Mr. Macdonald. No.456.

25th June, 1949.

Repeated to Hong Kong,

Nanking, Canton.

D. 8.45 a.m. 26th June, 1949.

R. 10.05 a.m. 20th June, 1949.

Addressed to Foreign Office telegram No.456 of 25th

June repeated for information to Hong Kong, Nanking and Canton.

My telegram No.455 June 25th and Hong Kong telegram No.100 Saving to Secretary of State for Colonies.

I feel strongly that the sooner the Hong Kong transmitters are strengthened the better. Radio Hong Kong which could be an effective voice in the Far East can at present hardly be heard in Canton. Artists and speakers are available in Hong Kong of such high entertainment quality that audiences in China can be assured, and we are not using this powerful weapon as well as we can.

2. It is the opinion of the Head of the Diplomatic Wireless there that the 7 kilowatt transmitters in Singapore cannot satisfactorily be adapted to medium wave and shipped to Hong Kong, and that it would be cheaper and quicker to ship new ones from the United Kingdom.

3. I would be most grateful for any help you can give in meeting in full additional requirements quickly. It may be that the Navy could assist in transporting the transmitters.